Gleyber Torres' season took another rough turn on Friday night when New York Yankees’ manager Aaron Boone made the bold move to bench him during the third inning of the Yankees’ 8-5 defeat against the Toronto Blue Jays. This decision came after a series of frustrating mishaps from Torres that underscored his challenging year.
It all started with a significant misjudgment in the second inning. Torres, thinking he’d hit a home run, sauntered out of the batter’s box, admiring what he believed was a towering drive off his bat. However, the ball merely clanged off the left-field wall. By the time he realized the error, his potential double had turned into a single. The misstep didn’t end there. Two batters later, the Yankees felt the sting of Torres' error when he tried to score from first base on a double by Anthony Volpe but was easily thrown out. The run he failed to score proved crucial, as it contributed to the Yankees' eventual loss.
Boone, who has been known for his reluctance to bench players mid-game, decided to sit Torres down in the third inning. Torres had a brief stint in the field before Boone made the change, replacing him with Oswaldo Cabrera. Boone explained his decision, stating, “I just felt like I needed to [bench him] in that spot. I’m not going to get too deep into making judgments on this one. I just felt like, in that moment, I needed to do that. Simple as that. It’s over with. You’ve got to move on. He and I have spoken, and hopefully, this is a great learning moment for all of us.”
Torres, despite being taken out of the game, expressed his understanding of Boone’s decision. “I have to get better,” he admitted. “I feel really sorry for [what I did] tonight, especially for the fans and my teammates. I’m a human being. I made an error, and I feel like from what I did tonight I’m going to learn a lot. I just want to compete with my teammates and give 100 percent for my team.” His acknowledgment of the mistake and willingness to improve showed maturity and a sense of responsibility.
The benching wasn’t the end of Torres’ troubles. His struggle this season has been a significant storyline. Entering the year, there were high expectations for Torres, especially with him being an impending free agent. A stellar performance could have secured him a lucrative multiyear contract, possibly with the Yankees themselves. However, his season has been marred by inconsistency and underperformance. Torres is currently facing career lows in batting average (.233), on-base percentage (.308), and slugging percentage (.669). Additionally, his 14 errors lead all major league second basemen, further compounding his struggles.
Aaron Judge, the Yankees' captain and a vocal leader, had his own thoughts on the situation. After hitting a jaw-dropping 477-foot home run in the first inning, Judge acknowledged the message Boone’s decision sent. “If you’re not doing your job, you’re going to be out of there,” Judge said. “He’s made that clear to us and made it clear to him. If I know Gleyber, something like this ain’t going to happen again.” Judge also praised Torres for his resilience, noting that after being benched, Torres reemerged from the clubhouse to support his teammates. “He could’ve hidden from it. He could’ve showered and been out of here. But he came back out. He was there, cheering, high-fiving guys. He’s a big part of this team,” Judge emphasized.
The backdrop to Torres’ current struggles is the looming uncertainty of his future. With his contract ending after this season, there’s speculation that he may not be part of the Yankees’ plans beyond 2024. Despite a recent uptick in performance since Boone's mid-season benching, the overall picture remains bleak. Torres' performance has been a stark contrast to the potential he once showed, casting doubt on his future with the team.
Boone, however, remains hopeful that Torres can turn things around. “He’ll be back in the lineup tomorrow,” Boone said. “It’s a chance for him to turn the page.” Torres himself recognizes the need for improvement and maturity. “As a professional, you have to do the right thing and always run,” he said. “There’s no excuses, no conversations. I’ve been in the league for a long time now. I have to be more mature in that situation and just play hard.”
This season has been a rollercoaster for Gleyber Torres, filled with highs and lows. As the Yankees continue their campaign, all eyes will be on Torres to see if he can turn his season around and secure his place in the team’s future.
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